HYDERABAD: In compliance of Sindh High Court’s Aug 22 order asking for an inquiry into alleged wrongdoings by Liaquat University Hospital Director Abdul Sattar Jatoi, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Director at Karachi Aisar Ali has informed the court’s Hyderabad circuit bench that the probe had been authorised by the NAB Karachi director general.

Mr Ali, who is the investigating officer of the case, stated that “this report is submitted before this court in the interest of justice…”.

The Aug 22 order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput and Justice Amjad Ali Bohio who directed the NAB chairman and director general to initiate an inquiry against Abdul Sattar Jatoi, a BS-20 officer at LUH.

After hearing arguments on Thursday (Sept 26), the bench adjourned the matter to Oct 3.

Senior judge recuses

The Senior Judge, Justice Zafar Rajput, recused himself from the bench and directed court’s office to fix the matter before a bench of which he might not be a member. Justice Rajput is a member of syndicate of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro.

Lawyer Zafar Khan, who held brief on behalf of Mr Jatoi’s (defence) counsel Sarmad Hani, sought time to file a response to the petition. NAB’s Special Prosecutor Niaz Hussain Mirani also sought time to file response on behalf of respondents. NAB’s compliance report was taken on record.

Sindh govt’s probe

Sindh Additional Advocate General Mohammad Ismail Bhutto filed comments on behalf of respondent-2 (chief secretary) regarding findings of an inquiry conducted more than one year ago by an officer under the directives of the then CS (Dr Mohammad Sohail Rajput).

The AAG filed compliance report of Secretary (services) SGA&CD Ghulam Ali Brahmani, who stated that the then CS, [only] after hearing Abdul Sattar Jatoi (respondent No. 7), and going through the inquiry report thoroughly “exonerated him from the charges / allegations against him vide order dated Dec 7, 2023”.

The Aug 22 order of the SHC had called for initiating an inquiry / investigation against Mr Jatoi observing that the “petitioner submitted enough proof against him having been involved in corruption and [having] given a huge loss to government’s exchequer”. The petition was filed by Jan Mohammad Lakho through Advocate Riazat Ali Sahar.

Petitioner’s allegations

The petitioner had quoted SHC’s Sukkur bench’s March 3, 2023 order, which had led to the removal of Mr Jatoi from the LUH. The petitioner had informed the bench that Mr Jatoi still held three LUH vehicles.

Mr Jatoi was also accused of getting 182 persons appointed in BS-1 to BS-5 against 152 vacancies in 2018 although a third party was supposed to be engaged as per CM’s Aug 2, 2008 directive for appointments in BS-5 and above.

The petitioner said that respondent purchased medical and laboratory equipment worth approximately Rs3bn and although payments were made, seven of them were not installed. He alleged that the officer managed issuance of a fraudulent letter dated Oct 28, 2021 for the release of Rs350m in LUH.

He informed court that the finance secretary was on Nov 1, 2023 advised by CS to abolish BS-19 post (of director, administration, accounts & development), from the LUH budget book. But due Mr Jatoi’s influence, according to the petitioner, this post was not abolished and the officer kept attempting to get himself appointed on this post.

The petitioner prayed the court to direct the finance secretary to abolish the post.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024